Still there are a lot of teams that can't afford to pay their roster even what the Cowboys can. They have talked, and may have already, made the cap to where you actually have to spend a certain amount of money.
Jerry and other big teams were not happy about some of the smaller markets not even trying to spend.
Also, Dallas could have every guru in the league from the GM all the way down to the Physical trainer.
The ability to market yourself in Dallas is greater too.
The NFL is not a level playing field even with a salary cap. IT's just put's a bigger emphasis on teams having a smart front office and great coaching staff.
There is a floor that must be met. That is to keep teams from going cheap. So every team in the league has a window of salary to pay out. We are always at the top of the cap window in terms of paying salaries. You can view that as a good or not so good thing. I see it both ways and see the cap situation as a bit complicated. I also think, as I've consistently said, we don't manage our cap well which includes a myriad of variables.
As far as having personnel, I don't see things the way many here appear to do. I think most coaches in the league are knowledgeable. Some are more knowledgeable for certain things. Another way to say that is some have more expertise than others in certain areas. And like almost all things there is a spectrum or bell shaped curve for that with most being within a standard deviation or two from the rest. IOWs, there isn't a lot to gain with most coaches for their area of expertise. Obviously you are going to occasionally find a person who is more than two standard deviations away from the mean and there lies your coaches like Landry, Parcells, Gibbs and so forth. They aren't common commodities and aren't there for our picking when ever we wish. So here we disagree.
The main thing on a football field is personnel playing the game. You have to make plays and you get big plays from your playmakers. Which is why I say seldom pass on drafting a playmaker. Better they be on your team than the one you're playing. But you can only have so many guys on your team like that anymore due to the cap. And only so many at certain positions. You can't spend but so much for each unit those being QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, LB and DB. Occasionally you will pay for a STs player like we did our kicker. And it's why you are looking for a playmaker to affect several areas on the field.
The other is matchups. The game is always going to be matchups and here is where coaching is at a premium. If you can put your players in positions of strength and in matchups they win more than lose or draw then you will likely influence the game. That and big plays esp negative ones win more games than anything else.
Today the draft is more important than ever. Here is where you begin to get your edge esp over time. You've got to get into the upper tier of the league in terms of the personnel you put in the game. Then you have to coach them.
As far as Jerry is concerned, I have no problem thinking of him as problematic. I just don't see him as quite the problem as many seem to do. I think he was a major problem at one time. I absolutely believe he needs to have either a GM in name or someone who fills that role for him. I believe that McClay could be that person.
I understand the frustration many have and for what reasons depending on the generation of fan. It's difficult for any fan of any generation. For older fans the prospect of never seeing the Cowboys in another SB before departing is especially frustrating.
Hope that clarifies my position for you. Best.
